Clubs & Organizations

American Legion Post 150. Sterling's Commander is Ed Linick at 703-478-0878. The Sterling American Legion Post meets the first Wednesday of every month at the Ruritan Clubhouse located on Ruritan Road in Sterling. All veterans of past periods of hostilities are welcome to attend these meetings and participate in the Post activities. Meetings begin in September.

Boy Scouts of America Goose Creek District. Provides a program for boys and girls ages 7-17 that is aimed to assist them in making good decisions through their learning in a variety of areas. Call Scout executive Jake Allred, 301-214-9162, Ext. 122. Visit www.boyscouts-ncac.org.

CountrySide Women's Club. An active group that holds most activities during the daytime. On going special interest groups include: book club, bridge, day trippers, lunch bunch, stitchery, evening socials, casual gourmet, walking and more. A monthly newsletter is published with club information and events. Call Barbara, 703-724-9479 and Teresa, 703-444-3035.

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Ketoctin Chapter of the DAR. New membership welcome. Ketoctin Chapter of the DAR serves Loudoun County, meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 12:30 p.m., except July and August. Members can trace lineage to a Revolutionary War soldier or patriot. The objective of the group is to promote patriotism, education and historic preservation. For information contact Pat Miller at 703-443-9971.

Eastern Loudoun Civil War Roundtable. Group meets at the Sterling Annex the third Tuesday of every month, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Nonmembers are welcome. Call Steve Meserve at 703-404-0542.

ECHO (Every Citizen Has Opportunity). ECHO supports employment and job training for people with disabilities. It also provides transportation for Medicare clients to doctors appointments and for welfare recipients to work. Call 703-779-2100.

Elks. Nonprofit organization that serves the community. Meetings take place the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7 p.m., except for July and August, then only on the third Wednesday of the month. The meetings take place at 44827 Old Ox Road, Sterling. Call 703-787-6820.

4-H Clubs. Youth development program that provides educational programs that teach life skills using different methods such as monthly clubs, school enrichment classes and a variety of other types of clubs and camps for children ages 5 to 19. Visit www.ext.vt.edu. Call 703-777-0373.

Girls Scouts of America. An all-girl organization, which focuses on building self-esteem as well as educating youth in a variety of fields including the outdoors, as well as participating in service projects. Loudoun field directors: Mindy Cebulski and Lorrie Caudle. Call 703-777-5644. Visit www.gscnc.org or www.girlscouts.org.

Knights of Columbus. Sterling, open to all "practical" Catholic men, 16-years-old or older. Practical means living up to God's commandments and the precepts of the Catholic Church. Call 703-430-6789 or visit www.goodsams.org.

La Leche League of Sterling. Regular meetings on the third Friday of the month at 10:15 a.m. The group supports mothers who breast feed and provides information to women considering nursing their babies. Call Elizabeth at 703-689-0811, Christine at 703-404-0121 or Meg at 703-467-8341.

League of Women Voters. P.O. Box 822 Leesburg, VA 20178. Phone: 703-777-9425. President: Betsy Mayr. Political yet nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through advocacy. Registers high-school students and citizens to vote, organizes debates and community forums and puts out voters guide. Members are male and female. Dues: $48/individual, $72/household of two people.

Loudoun County Democratic Committee. P.O. Box 544, Leesburg, VA 20178. Phone: 703-771-3366. Web site: www.lcdems.com. Check Web site for location. Local organization for the Democratic party of Virginia that helps Democratic candidates get elected and promotes the party principles. There are two types of membership and a $20 application fee. Thom Beres, chair, 703-430-6599 or e-mail beres2@att.net.

Loudoun County Republican Committee. P.O. Box 547 Leesburg, VA 20178. E-mail: info@loudoungop.com. Local organization for the Republican party of Virginia that helps Republican candidates get elected and promotes the party principles. Meets in the Board of Supervisors room in Leesburg. Visit the Web site at http://www.loudoungop.com. Application Fee: $30 for two years.

Loudoun County Special Olympics. Contact: Pat Macmac at 703-777-0438. Web site: www.specialolympicsva.com. Through the county and state partnerships, athletes are given the chance to participate in sports that are geared more towards their abilities.

Loudoun/Fairfax Mothers of Multiples Club. Through meetings and social activities, the LFMOMC helps parents of multiples better understand the challenges of raising their multiples through all the stages of their growth and development. General meetings are the fourth Tuesday of every month. New and expectant moms meet the first Tuesday and Thursday of every month. Moms of toddlers meet every Wednesday. P.O. 1118, Sterling, VA 20167, call 703-715-6669.

Loudoun Habitat for Humanity. Location: 109 Harrison St., N.E., Leesburg. Mailing address: P.O. Box 28, Leesburg, VA 20178. Phone: 703-777-7884. E-mail: loudounhabitat@earthlink.net. An organization that builds homes for those who otherwise would not be able to afford one. Volunteers help to build the house with aid from the organization.

Loudoun Historical Society. The Loudoun Historical Society is in the process of becoming active again after a slump following its creation in 1954. Currently, there are about 200 members. The board of the Loudoun Historical Society meets at either the Morven Park or Balch Library, both in Leesburg, every other month. With the goal of educating Loudoun County citizens, the Historical Society has several activities in mind, including a lecture series bringing attention to the historical significance of various homes and sites. Another endeavor of the society is the publication of an annual bulletin, which includes historical pamphlets, essays, and books about Loudoun County. For more information on the Loudoun Historical Society, contact Childs Burden at 540-687-4195.

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. P.O. Box 2088, Purcellville, VA 20134-2088. The Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is a nonprofit group of volunteers that share a common goal of protecting and perpetuating natural habitats. In partnership with the Audubon Naturalist Society, the Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District and the North Folk Goose Creek Watershed Project, the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is involved in monitoring the streams in Loudoun County. In addition, the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy sponsors several outdoor walks to observe and survey birds, butterflies, and wildflowers. Visit www.loudounwildlife.org or contact Nicole Hamilton at 540-882-4839, or e-mail nhamilton@loudounwildlife.org.

Parents Without Partners. Web site: www.pwp715.org. Phone: 703-406-3750. If interested in information on becoming a member, call Anne at 703-968-0182.

Parents of Murdered Children. Shenandoah Valley Chapter, contact leader Betty Loy 540-869-1036 or Stephanie Stronsnider, 304-725-4463. Web site: www.ponc.com, under Shenandoah chapter. A support group for those who have lost loved ones, not just children. Offers picnics throughout the year and monthly meetings the second Saturday of every month at 3:30 p.m. at the Timbrook Safety Center in Winchester. The Patrol Block program helps keep prisoners who are in jail for murder from gaining parole. The MINE program, Murder is Not Entertainment, was designed to combat such things as murder mystery getaways that promote murder as entertainment. It is encouraged to read the Web site for event updates.

Ruritan Club (Ashburn). Web site: www.ashburnruritan.org. A club that performs community service throughout the area by doing various projects such as painting tunnels after graffiti has been marked upon them as well as presenting an outstanding student award. Meets every second Tuesday of every month at the Ashburn Library. New members are welcome, contact vice president Alan Scaggs for more information at 703-729-0830.

United Way. 10-B South King St., Leesburg, VA 20175. Phone: 703-777-3920. E-mail: loudoun@uwnca.org. Provides information, referral for health and human service needs, donations and volunteer opportunities for the community.

Widowed Persons Group. Meets the second Monday of every month at the Sterling United Methodist Church at 7:30 p.m. Call Georgia Bagne at 703-777-8766 for more information.